Electrical connecting and supporting device



Nov.- 23 1926.

E. C. WHITE ELECTRICAL CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1920 '1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ATTORNEKS Nov. 23 1926 E. C. WHITE ELECTRICAL CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1920 2' Sheets-Sheet IN VENTOR A TTORNEYS Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

teams NIED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ERNEST CANTELO WHITE, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Z.. ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC OUTLET COM- PANY, INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CGREOBATION OF NEW YGRK.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING: DEVICE.

Application filed March 5, 1920. Serial No. 363,419.

The present applicant, by several applica tions, set out below, has disclosed and claimed broadly devices for supporting an electrical appliance to a wall or ceiling and connecting it electrically with a source of current by means of curved arms connected operatively, both mechanically and electrically with the appliance. By these several applications it was sought to bring out through the range of modifications disclosed therein, the degree of latitude allowed to one skilled in the art for practising the invention without departing from the princi ple underlying it. For instance, in some cases, the arms are retained in supporting relation to the wall or ceiling by devices which constitute a positive mechanical lock therefor, while in other cases the arms are retained in place by the action of gravity imposed thereon by the weight of the appliance. Further, it has been brought out clearly that the invention is not to be limited to the position of the center of curvature of the arms with relation to any surfaces associated with the devices, any such necessary relation being determined as a matter of design. The several applications referred to are Ser. Nos. 350,688; 350,689 and 350,690 filed January 10, 1920 and Ser. No. 352,087 filed January 17 1920. By the present invention the range of equivalent structures is further amplified by a different embodiment of the principle. in this case the supporting and connecting arms instead of being carried by the appliance are independent thereof, but are adapted to be engaged operatively thereby, when in position, the relation of the appliance to the supporting arms being such as to loclrthese arms in place by what may be termed a combination of mechanical and gravity locking action.

A further obiect of the invention is to improve generally the details of construc tion of the receptacle and the arms and their :arrying block so as to satisfy the manufacturers and elcctricians requirements of simplicity, cheapness, readiness of installation and assembling and unassembling.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiments there will be emphasized other permissible curvatures of the arms and other satisfactory relationships between such centers of curvature and proximate surfaces in and about the devices.

The invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View in vertical section through an outlet box showing the appliance in its relation thereto when supported and connected by means of the improved con necting and supporting devices, one of the outer side walls of the fibre receptacle being removed in the interest of clearness.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section' through the receptacle and block shown in Figure 1 and taken along the planes indicated by the broken lines 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the improved receptacle, the wall plate being removed.

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of one form of the improved supporting plu Figures 5 and 0 are detail views in site elevation and end elevation, respectively, of terminal plates within the fibre receptacle.

Figure 7 is a view in vertical section through an outlet box and bracket. with which associated the improved electrical connecting and supporting devices of some what modified form, the sectionbeing taken on the plane indicated by the broken lines 77 of Figure 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a view partly in horizontal section and partly in plan of the devices shown in Figure 7, the upper half of the receptacle being removed.

Figure 9 is a view in front elevation of the receptacle, the wall plate being removed.

Figure 10 is a detail view in front elevation of the improved plug.

The present application, while illustrating somewhat modified embodiments of the same invention as is set forth in the copending applications hereinbefore referred to, seeks not only to emphasize the simple and inexpensive character of necessary changes and additions to adapt present installations to the proposed standardized form of conn'ecting and supporting devices for electrical ap pliances, but also to show the small initial cost involved in manufacturing the special parts which will be required to standardize the means for connecting and supporting such devices wherever found. As pointed out hereinbefore, the underlying thought is to make furniture of such electrical appliances, including lighting fixtures, and to apply such appliances and fixtures to walls or ceilings with the case which characterizes the hanging of a picture. In order to fully realize such advantageous standardization of electrical appliances, it becomes a primary desideratun'i to permit wiring installations as now found and the form of electrical appliances, including fixtures, as now put out, to be adapted to the present stand- :tirdization and at the same time to minimize to the greatest possible degree the cost of any additional parts for connecting such appliances to such wiring installations and supporting them. in position. The present case is thought to illustrate a thoroughly practical commercial embodiment of means for bringing;- about the desired standardiza tion.

It is now common practice to wire up a building with an outlet box, such as a. at convenient points in the walls and ceilings and to secure to the bottom of this outlet box a fixture stud, such as is indicated at b, for the support of fixtures or appliances. Into such outlet box, as a, lead wires 0 from a suitable source of current supply. Theseoutlet boxes. when the necessary mechanical and electrical connections have been made with the appliances, are covered by some sightly means, such as by a wall plate, indicated at (Z, although this wall plate, it is to be u derstood may or may not be modified to adapt it to the present improvements. The appliance or fixture, indicated as a wall bracket c, is such as will be purchased by the user and the present invention has for its broad objects provide suitable devices whereby such an ap 'iliance may be readily supported in place and connectedelectrically with the source of current supply 0 without requiring the services of a wiring expert or any special mechanical skill in effecting; its support. To this end the invention is concerned with improved electrical connecting and supporting devices which constitute the new elements of the combination of parts. Such elements are, generally speaking, a receptacle indicated at f and a plug indicated in Figure l as The improved receptacle f may comprise a central block f of fibre, porcelain or other suitable insulating material, and two end blocks of fibre f?, f secured detachably thereto by means of through bolts h. The proximate faces of the block f and its end pieces F, f are recessed to receivea terminal plate i of metal in which is stamped or when-r e t me a e n .1 'e e r Q curved outline for a reason which will later appear. The wall i of the groove 71' is ner pendicular to the plate 2' as is the surface of the outer wall of this groove. 'To the plate 17 is riveted a second terminal piece is which extends across the groove 2'" and carries terminal posts 76 to which are sccured the wires 0.

One feature of the construction of the fibre receptacle 7, which may be found to be of practical importance, resides in the ralr beting of the opposite side faces of the central block 7 so as to receive the flanged ends 11 of the plate '5 and correspondingly rabbetcd portions of the end fiber pieces 7, 7' whereby all of the parts are held positively in fixed relation and, when once assembled, resist all tendency for displacement of any one of the sections of the fibre block or of the plates 2', 7c.

The end blocksf 7' may be formed with openings therein to permit the introduction of the wires (2 and their connection with the binding posts 1:.

Slots f appear in the front face of the receptacle f, these slots being in registry with the grooves z" to receive the conductor arms as will later appear.

The flush receptacle, as herein described, may be placed within the outlet box a and secured therein to the fixture stud b in a very simple and convenient manner.

As shown in Figure 2., it is proposed to re the rear wall of the cent-ralbloclr f to A cell? the fixture stud 7) and on, the stud isthreaded a spider nut which may be secured in adjusted position on the f sand as by means of a screw F2". 'llhe in in turn. receives a threaded stud 7) wh'. passes through the front all of the central block f and has its head 5- e p scd at the front of the receptacle f, alt-hougzh this head lie within the plane of the front (he of. in positioning the receptacle within the outlet box with its front face in arr des ed relation to the wall it will be und that the nut Z is threaded on to the uxiure stud 7) to any desired extent or finall locked in the desir d adjusted pos ion by means of the screw 7;, who; eupon the receptacle secured firmly to the nut 7/ means of stud b. Vihenever the position of the receptacle is to be changed 1 lation to the plane of the wa. that the nut 7) can be tur fixture stud Z to a greater o'" 1 For coin niencel the hay thereon a which may be secured the the invention is not concer such detail; The wall plate 0; u to'constitute a sightly corering for the i stallation and may take'any desii, ,d o

termed in t pi IR is bl ilUYQl' sections Z oi the cond are adapted to We bindn' bv n ..ns

which the elect...'; conductor arm is m the electri wires pass 0 rece 1 llll'Ullgll srutable in the libre pie-es y, y.

portions .2 r between the of the libre pieces 5 above and below the rec for the binding screws Z, so that a iirm and secure bearing suri'at between the arms and the plug is secured. The

pieces 5/", are held together partially by screws m and partially oy means of a band a which passes around three sides of the plug and secured thereto by means of a centri'il stud 71.. in the 111 91 't of compacness this band n is preferably s t in a channeled portion of the pieces g, 5 so to lie iiush with the outer surfaces or" 11 e a, Carried with the band it and p i formed integral therewith is a vertical hoolr section a? which, it has been found in practise, p eferably has one face in substantially the p; ie of the outer face of the plugand the 1 3 face, indicated at if, beveled ilor purpose which will appear. The formain oi"- this hook in its relation. LO the other parts ot the receptacle is not a. lii'nitation the scope of the invention, but the teatures oi design mentioned emph the simple and compact character wit. t 1e improved connecting and supporting}; de vices can be made to assume by proper designing.

The embodiment oi the conductor arms Z shown in Figure 1 indicates that the center of curvature of these arms. indicated at 0, falls in about the plane of the face plate d when the arms are slid through the slots 7' into engagement with the grooves 21 of the terminal plates The center of curvature of the grooves a" is, of course, coincident with the center ot curvature of the arms. Stresses on the arms 7/ will be resisted by the wall '2' of the groove 11 and since this wall is perpendicular to the plate i the plate will resist these stresses longitudinally of it. In like manner-the surface i of the outer wall of the groove 71 will seat on the insulating material of the receptacle and place it under compression. It is to be undersr that in some constructi'ons the grooves e such, may not be employed since the c conductor arms may with "terms or abutments which will serve to trelize the turning moments 1 the arms and hold them in lochec. pc Further, it is to be understood EfiLlOll otthe center of curvature 0 wit lation to the plane of the wall anc to arms is a matter of design that can be chang d by those skilled in the art without dep ing; from the invention oroviifled the rclatiin or parts is such as to permit the arms l to be moved in and out of the 89 slots f.

In the construction shown it is contemplated that the plug 5/ shall be mechanic 1 independent of the appliance (sue a bracket 6) which is to be supported. lie ever, it is further contemplated that the appliance itself will be soengaged with the plug 9 when the appliance is in place that the arms Z oi the plug will be locked lx'lei li the receptacle so as to prevent acciden disengagement therefrom. To this end the appliance a has secured to the reverse face of its base a bridge 0 which is adapted to be slipped into engagement with the beveled face n of the hook a when the plug 9 is in i 1.1 that the place. The so-called base of the fixture, whether 1ntegral therewith or secured thereto, serves as a canopy to cover the pine; and when this canopy is in proper rel; to the plug member and fixture it pre""' the withdrawal oi the plug termin from the receptacle. To remove the ap pliance 0 it is raised bodily in a genera vertical plane, thereby diseng; bridge 0 from the hook n moved from the wall for sutlicient di to permit withdrawal. of the curved arms 1 I by a generally upward rotative movement of the plug 9. lVhenthe appliance e in sup ported relation to the plug, as shown in Figure 1, the weight oi. the appliance is transmitted to the plug through the heel; n Further the relation of the bridge 6 to the hook n is such as to impress a firm binding stress on. the curved arms within the re ceptac-le so as to lock them snugly in place. The imposition of any additional stresses on the appliance 6, except a direct upward movement thereof, merely increases this locking action. It is evident that the op pliance cannot rotate either upwardly or downwardly when in position since its base -falls outside of the center of curvature 0 oi": the curved arms Z.

The details of construction of the receptacle and plug in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 740 are somewhat different trom those hereinbefore described. in this embodiment the flush receptacle is made up of two fibre pieces p, 20' joined along their hom ilt zontal mid plane and formed with registering recesses which, when the blocks are se cured together, as by means of through bolts 79 form uninterrupted curved grooves in which are supported terminals 39 p. These terminals may be formed conveniently of reversely bent, metallic pieces, the bases of which receive binding screws Q, g, for engagement with the conductor Wires C. The lower plug 79 as shown in Figure 8 may be recessed, as at p to receive the wires and binding screws and, when the upper plug 2) is removed, affords a convenient means of assembling the terminals 1)", 72* within the block and completing the electrical connections therewith. The curved grooves formed within the receptacle, as described, terminate in slots 72 in the face of the receptacle to receive entering conductor arms as will appear later. The receptacle may be supported adjustably within the outlet box A by means of a fixture stud B, adjustable nut E, set screw B stud B and stud head ll, all arranged and co-operating in the manner described in greater detail in connection with Figure 2.

The plug shown in Figure 10 differs in deails of construction from that shown in igure 4:. It comprises upper and lower ialves r, 7*, adapted to be held together by band. 5* which passes around three sides hereof and is secured thereto by means of a through bolt 8. The blocks 9, 1 are recessed internally to receive enlarged ends t of curved conductor arms 5. The ends t of the conductor arms are engaged by binding screws t" for attachment to conductor wires E of the electrical appliance E. The complementary blocks 1. r may be rabbeted at their corners, as indicated at W, to proride for snug engagement therebetween and prevent relative displacement thereof when the parts are assembled. The retaining band a which encircles the blocks 1', r carries, preferably integral therewith, an upstanding hook the inner edge of which is beveled, as at a for sliding engagement by a transverse bridge E secured to the base E of the electrical appliance. The inner beveled face of the hook s is cut out to afford clearance for the head of the bolt 8, the cut-out portion being indicated by dotted lines at a in Figure 10.

In the embodiment under consideration the conductor arms t have been shown as having a center of curvature, as at O, which, when the arms are in place, falls within the plane of the face of the receptacle. In such a case, where curved grooves are formed within the receptacle pieces 3), ,7)" to receive the arms t. the center of curvature of such grooves will coincide with the center of curvature of the arms. It is to be under stood, however, that grooves in the recep:

tacle are not essential since other abutt pieces for the arms will serve to equalize the turning ino'm'ents'impressed thereon when in place.

The manner of assembling the parts described is the same as that hereinb-efore described. The characteristic features of the devices herein are simplicity, compactness, cheapness of cost and facility of installation and application. If it be assumed that a building were wired up as at present ceiling outlet boxes such as a A with the leading in wires 0 C and usually a fixture stud 6 B would be found. In such case the rest of the attachments now found will be removed and the improved receptacle indicated at 7'' and that formed by tl e two pieces 2, 79 would be secured in place. Once in place no further mechanical or electrical adjustments for the application of the electrical appliance would ever be required. To co-operate with such a receptacle there would be provided with the appliances sold a supporting and connecting plug, such as is indicated at g and is formed by the blocks r, 7". Such a plug when connected to the wires of the appliance could be inserted in any receptacle wherever found and the appliance engaged with the hook 72 .9 thereof and thereby lock the conductor arms in supporting engagement with the receptacle.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a fixture, an electrical connecting and supporting device therefor, including a wall receptacle formed with entrance openings and provided with terminals, and a plug member including two upwardly curved conducting and supporting members to engage the terminals and insulating means therefor, and means intermediate the fixture and plug member for sup-- porting the former and positively holding the latter against withdrawal from the receptacle.

2. In combination with a fixture, an electrical connecting and supporting device therefor, including a receptacle formed with entrance openings and provided with terminals, a plug member including a lug, two curved conducting and supporting members to engage the terminals, and insulating means therefor, and means, intermediate the fixture and plug member, co-operating with said lug to support the fixture and positively hold the plug member against withdrawal from the receptacle.

3. An electrical connecting and supporting device including areceptacle formed with an entrance opening and provided with a terminal, and a plug member including 1-;- ture supporting means, a curved conducting and supporting member to engage the terminal, and insulating means between the fixture supporting means and saidconducting member,'said terminal being formed with a hearing surface for the side of the wnductin'g ing and supporting member about the said bearing surface in the terminal by the weight of a fixture on the fixture supportlng means.

l. An electrical connecting and supporting device including a wall receptacle'tormed with entrance openings and provided with terminals, and a plug member including fix ture supporting means, two upwardly curved conducting and supporting members to enge the terminals, and insulating means be; tween the fixture supporting means and said conducting members, said terminals being formed with curved grooves for the sides of the conducting and supporting members nearest to the plug member, said receptacle and plug member also including co-operating means for resisting the turning moments of the conducting and supporting members about the said grooves in the terminals by the weight 01 a fixture on the fixture supporting means.

5. A receptacle for an electrical connecting and supporting device formed with entrance openings for curved conducting and supporting members of a fixture supporting plug member of the device, and provided with terminals to be engaged by the conducting and supporting members, said terminals being formed with curved grooves for the sides of the conducting and supporting members nearest to the plug member, said grooves being in such relation to the conducting and supporting members that the weight of a fixture on the fixture supporting means maintains the plug member in-operating relation to the receptacle.

6. A plug for an electrical connecting and supporting device including curved conducting and supporting members having inner ends falling without the planes of said members, respectively, insulatin blocks having recesses to receive the saic inner ends of said members, a strap embracing the blocks and clamping said inner ends between them, and means to hold the parts in fixed relation.

7. A. plug for a wall electrical connecting and supporting device including two upwardly curved conducting and supporting members, insulating blocks having recesses to receive the inner ends of the members, a strap embracing the blocks and carrying a fixture supporting member, and means to hold the parts in fixed relation.

8. A Jlug tor a wall electrical connecting and supporting device including two upwardly curved conducting and supporting members, two insulating blocks having recesses to receive the inner ends of said members, the members passing through one of a fixture, and means passing through the strap and blocks 0 hold the parts in fixed relation.

plug for a wall electrical connecting pporting device including two up azrved conducting and supporting insulating means carried thereby, and a lug on he insulating means to engage a fixture.

10. A. stamped plate for a receptacle formed with bearing surfaces, perpendicular to, the plate, for a conducting and supporting manna-er of a fixture supporting plug, and with other bearing surfaces perpendicular to the plate for supporting engagement with an insulating portion oi the receptacle.

11. A receptacle for an electrical connecting and supporting device including an electrical terminal plate formed with bearing surfaces perpendicular to the plate for a conructing and supporting member of a fixture support lg plug, said plate and the insulating portionoi the receptacle having co-operating bearing surfaces perpendicular to the plate for supporting it in the receptacle.

A receptacle i'or an electrical connecting and supporting device including terminal plates formed with grooves having hearing surfaces perpendicular to the plate for curved conducting and supporting members ot a fixture supporting plug, said plate and the insulating portion of the receptacle being formed with co-operating bearing surtaces perpendicular to the plate for the support or the plate in the receptacle.

13. An electrical connecting and supporting device for a fixture including in combination, a receptacle formed with entrance openings and provided with terminals, a plug member independent 01"- the fixture and having terminals connected electrically with the fixture and engageable with the terminals within the receptacle, means intermediate the fixture and plug member and insulated from said terminals to support the fixture detachably on the plug member, and means to preclude the withdrawal of said plug terminals from said receptacle when the fixtur is in supported relation to the plug.

14. An electrical connecting and supporting device for a fixture including in combination, a receptacle formed with entrance openings and provided with terminals, a plug membe covered. by the base of the fixture and having terminals connected electrically with the fixture and engageable with the terminals within the receptacle, and means intermediate the fixture and plug member and insulated from said terminals to support the fixture detachably on the plug member. the base of said fixture normally precluding withdrawal of said plug lit) - terminals from said receptacle when the fixing device for a fixture having a bridge element including in combination, a wall receptacle formed with entrance openings and provided. with terminals, a plug member having terminals connected electrically with the fixture and engageable with the terminals within the receptacle, and a vertical lug formed with a beveled inner face carried with the plug member and insulated from said terminals and adapted to be engaged detachably by said bridge element to support the fixture.

This specification signed this 25th day of February, A. D. 1920.

ERNEST CANTELO VJHITE. 

